Department for Transport

Cars

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to support World Car Free Day 2018.

Jesse Norman: The Department supports the principles behind World Car Free Day, of encouraging an increase in cycling and walking for short journeys to reduce traffic congestion and emissions from road transport, as well as increasing health benefits from more active lifestyles. It is for cities and local authorities to determine if, and how, they choose to participate as part of World Car Free Day. The Government’s statutory Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, published in April 2017, outlines £1.2 billion of funding that may be invested in cycling and walking in England over the period to 2021.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of whether there will be an increase in the number of people who will be ineligible to receive the discount on energy through the Warm Home Discount Scheme as more people are choosing to move from large to small energy suppliers.

Claire Perry: Energy suppliers that are obligated to participate in the Warm Home Discount scheme cover 94% of the market for domestic customers. Our evaluation suggests that intentions to switch energy suppliers are generally low among rebate recipients. We have recently completed a consultation on the next phase of Warm Home Discount, including the obligation thresholds, and are currently reviewing the responses.

Fracking

Lee Rowley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate the Government has made of the number of hydraulic fracturing wells required in the UK to replace gas imports for the period 2021 to 2035.

Claire Perry: In October 2017, the Government published a report summarising gas security, including consideration of the role of shale gas, over the next 20 years:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gas-security-of-supply-strategic-assessment-and-review. UK security of supply is provided by having access to a diverse range of sources, of which shale gas could be one. However, it is not yet known how much of the UK shale gas resource will ultimately be recoverable, or what rates of extraction, deliverability or reliability could be assumed if shale sources are found to be viable. As such, while shale gas has the potential to support gas security of supply in the UK at a time when UK Continental Shelf supply sources are in decline, and to reduce reliance on imported gas, we do not have a figure on the number of wells needed to have an effect on security of supply. Government security of supply assessments have conservatively assumed no shale contributions during the next 20 years.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Sir Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his policy is on small and medium-sized renewable energy generation after the scheduled closure of the feed-in tariff scheme.

Claire Perry: We are considering options for low-carbon generation, currently eligible for the Feed-In Tariff, beyond 2019, and a consultation on the Feed-in Tariff scheme will be published in due course.

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for the deliverability of the Hinkley Point C power station of recent faults at the Flamanville nuclear reactor; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Harrington: Nuclear safety is of paramount importance. The UK has a robust nuclear safety regime overseen by the independent Office for Nuclear Regulation which ensures this remains the case. The operator has committed to learning the lessons from Flamanville to ensure that they are not repeated at Hinkley Point C.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Non-departmental Public Bodies

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many (a) women and (b) men his Department has appointed to each of his Department's non-Departmental Public Bodies in each of the last five years.

Richard Harrington: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has 39 Partner Organisations. We submit our diversity data to the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in their role to provide independent assurance that appointments by Ministers to the boards of public bodies are made in accordance with the Government’s Principles of Public Appointments and Governance Code.  2016-20172017-2018New appointments per year121[1]98Men6762Women4632Undeclared84BEIS was established in July 2016. Therefore we do not hold comparable data for previous years. [1] Note – data for 3 periods only as the data starts after the introduction of BEIS.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Venezuela: Elections

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the transparency and legitimacy of the electoral process in Venezuela.

Sir Alan Duncan: The UK, together with EU and other international partners, have serious reservations about the transparency and legitimacy of the electoral process in Venezuela. We regret that the recent Presidential elections were convened without wide agreement on the date or on the conditions for a credible and inclusive process. We are also concerned at the government's continued attacks on opposition politicians, a number of whom have been prosecuted, imprisoned or stripped of their political rights.The impartiality of the National Electoral Council (CNE) is questionable, having failed to guarantee a level playing field for all candidates and political parties in the 20 May Presidential elections. Elections were clearly not free, fair or transparent. These elections have only created further obstacles to a peaceful, negotiated political solution. We believe that Venezuela should hold new elections which meet international democratic standards.Condemnation of the Presidential elections has been swift and loud. The Foreign Secretary, who was in the region at the time of the elections, issued a strong statement criticising the elections. The EU, US, G7 and G20 also issued similar statements. We will continue to judge the Venezuelan government on its actions. It needs to take immediate steps to restore the democratic order and release political prisoners. EU foreign Ministers issued a statement to this effect following the Foreign Affairs Council on 28 May.

Tunisia: Politics and Government

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to support democratic transition in Tunisia.

Alistair Burt: We're supporting Tunisia with more than £10m of Programme funding this year, including support on the rule of law, access to justice and strengthening democratic and judicial institutions. Successful municipal elections in May were an important milestone in Tunisia's Transition, but it is vital that we continue to encourage independent democratic institutions, particularly the establishment if a Constitutional Court. Both Lord Ahmed and I will be visiting Tunisia this Summer to reinforce that message and the UK's support.

Germany and Russia: Natural Gas

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed Nord Stream 2 pipeline connecting Germany and Russia on the UK's (a) security and (b) economic interests.

Sir Alan Duncan: Russia is not a significant supplier of gas to the UK. Less than 1% of the UK's gas supply is imported from Russia. The proposed pipeline will not therefore affect the UK's energy security, or our economic interests.

Guatemala: Politics and Government

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Guatemalan counterpart on reports of threats against the leader and members of the Nuevo Dia Ch'orti Indigenous Association in Guatemala; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Alan Duncan: Officials in our Embassy in Guatemala City will raise these reports at the EU Filter Group, an informal human rights monitoring mechanism, in order to discuss with the international community and collectively raise concerns with the Guatemalan authorities . Our Embassy will continue its work to promote consultation with indigenous populations in advance of major infrastructure projects.

International Criminal Court

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the merits of ratifying the Kampala amendments on the crime of aggression to the Statute of Rome.

Mark Field: The Kampala amendments are activated on 17 July 2018. Thereafter, the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court over the crime of aggression only applies, in the absence of a UN Security Council referral, to acts of aggression committed by States Parties that have ratified or accepted the amendments to the Rome Statute on the crime of aggression. The UK has no plans to ratify these amendments, as we believe that the UN Security Council should be the body responsible for determining when an act of aggression has occurred.

Basques: Terrorism

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Spanish counterpart on the Arnaga declaration on the conflict in the Basque country; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Alan Duncan: I have had no discussions with my Spanish counterpart on the Arnaga declaration that followed terrorist group ETA’s announcement of its dissolution. The British Government has however made clear that we stand united with Spain in the struggle against terrorism and remember, alongside the Spanish people, the many victims of ETA terrorism.

Guatemala: Human Rights

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Guatemala on the killing of human rights defenders and community leaders Luis Marroquin, Jose Can Xol and Mateo Chaman Paau this month.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Government unequivocally condemns attacks on human rights defenders. Our Embassy in Guatemala City monitors the human rights situation in Guatemala closely and embassy staff regularly engage with human rights defenders. Officials participate in the EU's informal human rights monitoring mechanism, the Filter Group, which reviews threats and attacks against human rights defenders and raises concerns with the Guatemalan authorities collectively. They will discuss these cases at the next opportunity.

South Sudan: Peace Negotiations

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the prospects for a durable peace settlement to end the civil war in South Sudan following the Intergovernmental Authority on Development-mediated negotiations between the parties to that conflict.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of violations of the cessation-of-hostilities agreement on South Sudan since December 2017; and what information his Department holds on the number of such violations documented by the ceasefire transitional security arrangements monitoring mechanism to date.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his counterparts in (a) the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and (b) African Union member states on (i) the compliance of parties to the civil war in South Sudan with the cessation-of-hostilities agreement of December 2017 and (ii) the imposition of multilateral sanctions by those organisations against those responsible for violations of that agreement.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to (a) his counterparts in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development member states and (b) officials from that organisation on the publication of all reports of the ceasefire transitional security arrangements monitoring mechanism on ceasefire violations since December 2017.

Boris Johnson: The third phase of the High Level Revitalisation Forum closed on 23 May with the parties unable to reach agreement on the key governance and security issues that are essential for long term peace. However, following a meeting of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)'s Council of Ministers, IGAD has decided to convene a further round of discussions between the parties to push for a viable agreement.The UK continues to engage closely with IGAD and its member states to urge them to take clear, robust action against those who violate the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA). Violations have continued since the agreement was signed in December. The Minister for Africa, along with senior officials including the UK Ambassador to South Sudan and the UK Special Representative, consistently raise the UK's concerns about ongoing violations of the COHA with IGAD and its member states, and continue to urge swift action against spoilers.We continue to provide financial and political support to the ceasefire monitoring body, the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM), to ensure that it is able to continue reporting on violations in a timely manner. We are nevertheless concerned that some CTSAMM reports have not been made public. The UK therefore continues to call on IGAD to ensure that reports are published in a timely manner and acted upon quickly.

South Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on the number of instances of (a) obstruction of free movement of UN peacekeepers and (b) other violations of the status of forces agreement between the UN and South Sudan by the Government of that country in (i) 2017 and (ii) 2018.

Boris Johnson: Information on the number of instances of violations of the status of forces agreement is recorded by the UN, and is published on the website of the Security Council in the UN Secretary General's reports on South Sudan.From December 2016 to November 2017, the UN reports that 191 violations of the status of forces agreement occurred. This included 104 instances of the obstruction of the free movement of peacekeepers.From November 2017 to February 2018, the UN reports that 30 violations of the status of forces agreement occurred. This included 12 instances of the obstruction of the free movement of peacekeepers.

South Sudan: Human Rights

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to UN Security Council Resolution 2406, what steps the Government is taking to support the provision of technical advice and assistance to the Government and security forces of South Sudan on (a) compliance with international humanitarian law and (b) the investigation and prosecution of human rights abuses.

Boris Johnson: The Government does not provide bilateral technical advice and assistance on compliance with international humanitarian law or on the investigation and prosecution of human rights abuses to the Government of South Sudan or to the South Sudanese security forces.We welcomed the Security Council's 15 March decision to renew the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). This includes providing technical assistance and advice on international humanitarian law and on investigating and prosecuting human rights violations. The UK strongly supports UNMISS and has deployed over 300 troops to enable the Mission to deliver its mandate effectively.In March this year, we gave our strong support to the renewal of the mandate of the Commission for Human Rights in South Sudan, to monitor and report on the human rights situation, to collect and preserve evidence, and to clarify those groups and individuals who are responsible.

South Sudan: Conflict Resolution

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the merits of the August 2015 agreement on the resolution of the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan as a framework for ending the civil war in that country.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of whether the composition of the Government of South Sudan constitutes a transitional government of national unity in accordance with the terms of the August 2015 agreement on the resolution of the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.

Boris Johnson: The Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS), signed in 2015, was not able to prevent the outbreak of violence in 2016. This is why, last year, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) began mediating on a process for revitalising the 2015 agreement through a High Level Revitalisation Forum (HLRF), in order to address the issues that led to conflict.The third phase of the HLRF closed on 23 May with the parties unable to reach agreement on the key governance and security issues. IGAD has since decided to take forward one further round of discussions to seek compromise. The British Government has called on the parties participating in the HLRF to make the necessary compromises for peace, and to form an inclusive Transitional Government of National Unity that is fully representative of the varied groups in South Sudan.

South Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of progress towards full deployment of the Regional Protection Force to South Sudan in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2304 of August 2016.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of whether 4,000 troops is the appropriate level for the Regional Protection Force in South Sudan; and what recent discussions he has had with the UN Secretary-General on the proposed number of troops to be deployed as part of that force.

Boris Johnson: Detachments of troops from Rwanda, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Ethiopia have arrived and are now operational in Juba, bringing the total number of Regional Protection Force (RPF) troops to 1,030.The UK gave our strong support to the Security Council's decision to renew the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) which, extended to March 2019, maintains UNMISS's overall troop ceiling of 17,000, and includes the RPF's deployment of 4,000 troops. We continue to engage with the UN Secretary General's office, and with the Head of UNMISS, to encourage the full and swift deployment of the RPF.

South Sudan: Humanitarian Aid

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the US Administration on its review of financial assistance to South Sudan; what information his Department holds on the options under consideration; and when he expects that review to be completed.

Boris Johnson: The US Government announced on 8 May that it would initiate a comprehensive review of its assistance programmes to South Sudan, which will include a focus on ensuring that US Government funding is not being diverted to fuel conflict.Through our Troika partnership, the British Government continues to work closely with the US Government as the latter begins its comprehensive review. We are committed to working with the US and all of our international partners to address the suffering of the South Sudanese people, and to promote the cause of peace in South Sudan.

South Sudan: Press Freedom

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the findings of the report on the right to freedom of opinion and expression in South Sudan since the July 2016 crisis, published by the UN Mission in South Sudan and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on 22 February 2018, what recent representations he has made to his South Sudanese counterpart on the importance of a free press.

Boris Johnson: Freedom of expression plays an essential role in the establishment and maintenance of peace and political stability. The Government therefore continues to be deeply concerned by the actions the Government of South Sudan has taken to clamp down on media freedom and on access to information, including blocking websites, closing media organisations, and attacking journalists. The World Press Freedom Index ranks South Sudan as 144th out of 180 countries for press freedom. The UK is also deeply concerned about the harassment by the Government of South Sudan and the National Security Service of civil society actors and human rights defenders.The UK strongly condemns these actions. We continue to lobby the Government of South Sudan at every available opportunity to open up political space, and to protect freedom of expression for civil society, journalists, and human rights defenders, to ensure that they are free to speak out without fear of retribution.

South Sudan: Crimes Against Humanity

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his counterpart in South Sudan on  the establishment of a hybrid court; and when he expects that court to begin adjudicating cases of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in that country.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government’s policy is on the establishment by the UN Security Council of an adhoc international tribunal in the event of a failure to establish hybrid court for South Sudan.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the August 2015 agreement on the resolution of the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, what recent representations he has made to his South Sudanese counterpart on the establishment of (a) a national Commission for Truth Reconciliation and Healing and (b) a Compensation and Reparations Authority.

Boris Johnson: The UK strongly supports the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms in South Sudan, including the Commission for Truth Reconciliation and Healing, the Compensation and Reparations Authority, and the Hybrid Court, both to promote healing and reconciliation for the victims of human rights violations, and to ensure that the perpetrators of such abuses are held to account for their crimes.We continue to urge the Government of South Sudan to work with the African Union to expedite the Court's establishment.The UK will continue to consider the most effective means to bring to justice perpetrators of atrocities and those who have assisted them. The victims of the conflict in South Sudan must be central to any process.

Horn of Africa: EU Immigration

Sir Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent progress has been made on the EU-Horn of Africa migration route initiative to tackle irregular migration from the Horn of Africa.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Khartoum Process has made good progress to address people smuggling and human trafficking in the Horn of Africa. The UK chaired two thematic meetings in 2016 and 2017 and Egypt hosted a trilateral meeting (Khartoum/Rabat Processes and Horn of Africa Initiative) in November 2017 to understand: progress to date; ongoing challenges; and the solutions needed for a joined-up and concerted response. The Khartoum Process has approved 147 programmes under its Better Migration Management programme and it also continues to implement the Regional Operation Centre of Khartoum which aims to improve cooperation and information sharing between law enforcement agencies to disrupt the people smuggling and trafficking rings exploiting migrants. The 2018 Italian Chairmanship is building upon these efforts with further thematic and training workshops alongside a review of thematic conclusions to ensure tangible future delivery. There will also be a Joint Senior Officials Meeting in November to assess the progress made under the Joint Valletta Action Plan.

Syria: Overseas Aid

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 28 March 2018 to Question 133664 on Syria: Overseas Aid, what the security reasons are for not disclosing the armed opposition groups that the UK is supporting in Syria.

Alistair Burt: We do not publish details of our projects in Syria when this information could pose a risk to our partners.

Syria: Overseas Aid

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his Answer of 28 March to Question 133664 on Syria: Overseas Aid, if he will publish the (a) communications equipment and (b) logistics equipment provided to the armed opposition groups in Syria.

Alistair Burt: Parliament has already been informed, through Written Ministerial Statements, of equipment provided through our Conflict Stability and Security Fund projects in Syria.Provision of Equipment to Syria Civil Defence and the Free Syrian Police Made on: 26 April 2017 , by: Boris Johnson (The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs) Commons HCWS618Provision of Equipment to Moderate Armed Opposition Border Force and Medical Units Made on: 26 April 2017 by: Boris Johnson (The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs) Commons HCWS617Gifting of Equipment to Syria Civil Defence and the Free Syrian Police Made on : 29 June 2016 by: Philip Hammond (The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs) Commons HCWS48Syria CSSF: Support to the Moderate Armed Opposition Made on: 17 November 2015 Made by: Philip Hammond (The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs ) Commons HCWS310Gifting of search and rescue equipment to Syrian civil defence teams Made on: 03 March 2015 by: Philip Hammond (Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs) Commons HCWS333Gifting of equipment to the Free Syrian Police Made on: 03 March 2015 by: Philip Hammond (Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs) Commons HCWS332

Syria: Overseas Aid

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether officials of his Department have met with Ahrar al-Sham in Syria; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: ​We have no current contact with Ahrar al Sham. However, officials have had occasional contact with their representatives in the past, as such contact was used to press the importance of a negotiated political settlement to the Syrian conflict.

Department of Health and Social Care

Atrial Fibrillation

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have received a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation in each of the last five years.

Steve Brine: This information is not held centrally. Information on the number of finished admission episodes (FAEs) in secondary care (activity in English National Health Service hospitals and English NHS-commissioned activity in the independent sector) with a primary diagnosis for atrial fibrillation and flutter between 2012/13 and 2016/17, and for atrial fibrillation only for 2016-17, is shown in the following table. 2012/1398,5032013/14100,9912014/15102,5692015/16107,8952016/17109,431 Note: An FAE is the first period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year or month in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the period. The primary diagnosis refers to the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. The number of FAEs in secondary care with a primary diagnosis for atrial fibrillation only in 2016/17 is 34,517. Atrial fibrillation-only FAE data (i.e. not including atrial flutter FAE data as well) is not available prior to 2016/17 as this information was not separately recorded by NHS Digital prior to that year.

Pharmacy Integration Fund

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funds have been appropriated from the Pharmacy Integration Fund, in each year on (a) schemes to support pharmacists working in GP surgeries, (b) schemes to support community pharmacies to become better integrated with the NHS and (c) deferring the cost of (i) other parts of the NHS and (ii) wider Government expenditure.

Steve Brine: The Pharmacy Integration Fund (PhIF) programme of work started in 2016/17. From the PHIF, funding for schemes to support pharmacists working in general practitioner surgeries was £0 in 2016/17 with £5 million allocated in both 2017/18 and 2018/19. In 2016/17, £210,000 was allocated to schemes to support community pharmacies to become better integrated with the National Health Service, with a further estimated spend of £2,140,000 in 2017/18 and £2.5 million allocated for 2018/19. These figures do not however include funding for a wide range of Health Education England training schemes, including for community pharmacy staff which is additional. In 2016/17, £1,784,000 and an estimated £21,799,630 in 2017/18 was appropriated from the PhIF to support other parts of the NHS.

Pharmacy and Primary Health Care: Data Protection

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made on the financial effect of appointing a data protection officer on (a) independent community pharmacies and (b) other primary healthcare providers.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department has made no specific assessment on the financial impact of appointing a data protection officer on independent community pharmacies or other primary healthcare providers. It is the responsibility of each organisation to ensure their compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation which came into effect on 25 May 2018. For the past year we have been working alongside system partners across health and social care in developing a comprehensive suite of guidance products to help organisations recognise their obligations and help put effective governance and risk management arrangements in place from 25 May. These guidance materials are available to all health and care organisations on the NHS Digital website and will include guidance to general practice, optometry, pharmaceutical and dental organisations. In addition, there is considerable information and guidance available from the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Pharmacy Integration Fund

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health of 20 December 2016, Official Report, how much of the £300 million pharmacy integration fund has been expended.

Steve Brine: Spend on the Pharmacy Integration Fund was £216,305 in 2016/17 and is estimated to be £18,200,370 in 2017/18. A further £40 million has been committed for 2018/19. Delays to planned expenditure did result in an underspend against the funding allocated to this programme. As is standard Government finance procedure, underspends cannot be carried forward by either NHS England or the Department. As a result some of this funding was appropriated to support other programmes outside of pharmacy. The Government however remains committed to this programme which is already having a real impact and which will continue to develop.

Chronic Illnesses: Prescriptions

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of extending free prescriptions to people with long-term health conditions.

Steve Brine: We have no current plans to amend the list of long-term health conditions which qualify for free prescriptions. The last consultation on this issue was as part of Professor Sir Ian Gilmore’s review in 2008, which included consultation with patients, the public and general practitioners. Exemption from the prescription charge is available to those who are over 60, people with certain medical conditions, people under age 19 and in full time education and those on low incomes. Almost 90% of prescriptions are dispensed free of charge and those who need a number of prescriptions each month can buy a prepayment certificate, which can help reduce costs significantly.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the medical exemption criteria for prescription charges were first created; and how often that criteria has been (a) reviewed and (b) amended since it was introduced.

Steve Brine: Exemption from charges for people suffering from certain specified medical conditions started in June 1968 after an agreement with the medical professions. In 2008, Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, undertook a review into extending exemptions to all those with long-term conditions. The review was published in 2010, and in light of the financial challenges facing the country the decision was taken that no changes would be made. Since 1968, the only change to the list of medical exemption criteria was the introduction of the exemption for people undergoing cancer treatment in 2009, including the effects of cancer, or the effects of current or previous cancer treatment.

Department for International Development

Yemen: Storms

Mr Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect on medical facilities in Yemen of the recent cyclone in that country.

Alistair Burt: Two tropical cyclones – Sagar and Mekunu – hit parts of Yemen in the second half of May, with the most severe damage reported on the island of Socotra. A rapid assessment suggests that all the health facilities in Socotra are functioning but with low capacity and in urgent need of essential drugs. The humanitarian community has started to send shelter kits and other non-food items, as well as food and medical supplies to the island. A UN team is working with the local authorities to assess further needs and coordinate response efforts.Only half of Yemen’s health facilities are fully functional and 16 million Yemenis require support to obtain healthcare. Our support of £170 million to Yemen this financial year (2018/19) includes support for improving the quality and availability of healthcare and medical supplies in Yemen.

Yemen: Storms

Mr Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect on access to clean drinking water in Yemen of the recent cyclone in that country.

Alistair Burt: Two tropical cyclones – Sagar and Mekunu – hit parts of Yemen in the second half of May. Early reports indicate that the damage was most severe on the island of Socotra, where the water network has been damaged and floods are increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. The humanitarian community has started to send emergency supplies, including hygiene kits and chlorine to purify water to Socotra, and a UN team is working with the local authorities to assess further needs and coordinate response efforts.Some 16 million Yemenis require support to meet their basic water, sanitation and hygiene needs. The UK’s support of £170 million to Yemen this financial year (2018/19) is helping to provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene services to Yemen.

Rohingya: Sexual Offences

Mr Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to tackle sexual exploitation and trafficking of Rohingya refugee women and girls.

Mr Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the risk of sexual exploitation of women and girls at refugee camps in Bangladesh.

Alistair Burt: We recognise that Rohingya women and girls face risks in the camps including domestic violence, sexual harassment, forced labour and sexual exploitation. DFID is helping to provide services including psycho-social counselling, reproductive health services, child-friendly spaces, safe shelters and legal advice in the camps. We are also providing essential help in the camps such as improved lighting and alarms to help keep women and girls safer.

Department for International Development: Non-departmental Public Bodies

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development,  how many (a) women and (b) men her Department has appointed to each of his Department's non-Departmental Public Bodies in each of the last five years.

Harriett Baldwin: The Commissioner for Public Appointments completes and publishes an annual data survey of all new appointments and reappointments made to boards of public bodies by Government including the overall gender diversity. Data on the gender diversity of new non-executive appointees to public boards for 2012 to 2015 is published on Gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/diversity-in-public-appointments.

Department for Education

Apprentices: Taxation

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of devolving the (a) level and (b) operation of the apprenticeship levy to (i) the devolved administrations, (ii) local authorities and (iii) other local bodies.

Anne Milton: As skills is a devolved matter, the devolved administrations already receive their share of the apprenticeship levy. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive £460 million between them in 2019/20 from HM Treasury. It is for these administrations to decide how they develop their skills policy, including how they fund and operate their apprenticeship programmes. While we have devolved some elements of our skills policy to the local level, such as the adult skills budget, we have been clear that we need to keep the development of apprenticeships policy as a nationally driven and funded programme. This is critical if the system is to produce the skills employers need. As the apprenticeship programme is demand led, we expect employers to request the training they require at the local level. The apprenticeships levy is devolved to individual employers. Those paying the levy decide how the funds in their accounts are used and there are a number of measures in place to support smaller employers and encourage them to offer apprenticeships. One example of this would be the co-investment of 90 per cent of apprenticeship training and assessment costs provided by government, and our recent procurement to deliver apprenticeship training to non-levy payers (including smaller employers). Through this we have procured over £550 million of apprenticeship training with providers who will work locally with smaller employers to deliver the apprenticeships they want.

GCE A-level: Ethnic Groups

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Black British students achieved 3 'A' grades or higher in A Levels in each of the last eight years.

Nick Gibb: The number of black students achieving[1] three A*-A grades at A level[2], split by ethnic group, from 2010/11 – 2016/17[3] are as follows: Academic yearNumber of studentsNumber achieving three A*-A grades2010/118,9893582011/129,4153432012/1310,3854072013/1410,6224002014/1511,4114592015/169,4574492016/17[4]9,234487 Figures for 2009/10 are not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. [1] Based on students at the end of their 16-18 study.[2] Based on students who entered for at least 1 A level or applied A level qualification. Where qualifications taken by a student are in the same subject area and similar in content, ‘discounting’ rules have been applied to avoid double counting qualifications.[3] Figures are based on final data, except for 2016/17 which is based on revised data.[4] The methodology through which student’s ethnicity is identified was changed in 2016/17. Up to 2015/16 a student’s ethnicity was taken from their census record three years prior to the academic year the figures are reported for. In 2016/17 a student’s ethnicity is taken from the census record of their final year of key stage 4 study (normally, three years prior). Due to this change, 2016/17 figures can not be compared to earlier years.

Apprentices: Agriculture

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to increase the number of places for agricultural apprenticeships.

Anne Milton: Apprenticeship standards are now available across a broad range of sectors including in agriculture. A standard for both a Land based service engineer and Arborist have been approved as an apprenticeship standard. There are a number of further standards in development including crop technician, farrier, poultry technician and stockperson.The new apprenticeship standards across all levels are being designed and driven by industry; creating higher quality training that will lead to a more productive economy and give employers, like those in the agricultural sector the skills they need to grow and succeed. The department does not limit the number of places for agricultural apprenticeships. It is for the employers to decide how many apprentices they wish to employ.

Department for Education: Non-departmental Public Bodies

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) women and (b) men his Department has appointed to each of his Department's non-Departmental Public Bodies in each of the last five years.

Anne Milton: The department holds information on the number of men and women appointed in the last five years for its three executive agencies, whose staff are employed by the department. This data is shown in the table attached. The School Teachers’ Review Body and the Social Mobility Commission are advisory NDPBs and have no staff. The department does not hold information for its remaining NDPBs.



148753_Number_men_women_appointed_last_five_years_
(PDF Document, 344.45 KB)

Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Justice: Procurement

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many contractors currently employed by his Department are paid £1,000 or more per day.

Lucy Frazer: Three. As at February 2018.The Ministry of Justice brings in contractors for a variety of reasons. These include general skills for short term work on projects that do not require a long term permanent role, or where highly specialist skills are required only on a temporary basis. We seek to use contractors where to do so is more efficient and cost-effective, saving money for the taxpayer.

Roads: Accidents

Thelma Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been prosecuted after a road traffic accident involving a horse in each of the last five years in (a) West Yorkshire and (b) England.

Lucy Frazer: This information is not held centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Crown Courts: Witnesses

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average witness waiting time was at each Crown Court in each of the last three years.

Lucy Frazer: Average witness waiting times at each Crown Court in each of the last three years is contained in the table attached. Our commitment to witnesses, in terms of time spent waiting at court, is clearly set out in The Witness Charter, namely that everyone involved in a case will seek to ensure that witnesses do not have to wait more than two hours at court before giving evidence. Where the circumstances of a case do not make this possible, witnesses are kept informed.



Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 60.69 KB)

Treasury

Stock Market

Luke Graham: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing regional stock exchanges throughout the UK; and if he will make a statement.

John Glen: The Government conducted a consultation in 2010 that sought views on regional exchanges As noted in the Government’s response almost all respondents to the consultation did not favour the introduction of such exchanges (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/253763/bis-10-1242-financing-business-growth-response.pdf). There are no legislative barriers preventing market participants from setting up regionally-focused exchanges, provided they receive the required approvals from the Financial Conduct Authority.

Financial Services: Republic of Ireland

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many UK investment funds are domiciled in Ireland.

John Glen: Ireland is currently a popular destination for fund domicile and as of February 2018, there were 4,259 UCITS funds domiciled in Ireland. There are currently 2,764 Irish funds registered for sale in the UK.

Revenue and Customs: Recruitment

Peter Dowd: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many additional HMRC staff have been employed in the last year.

Mel Stride: HMRC publish summary data on their workforce routinely at the following location: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/workforce-management-information-summary-data

Excise Duties: Wines

Bill Grant: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made on the potential effect on (a) businesses and (b) levels of employment of increasing the duty paid on the dilution of wine and made-wine.

Robert Jenrick: At Autumn Budget 2017, the government announced a review of the practice of diluting wine and made-wine after the excise duty has been accounted for. HMRC has invited views from representative bodies and affected businesses. Responses are currently being analysed and assessments of impact will be considered as part of the review process.

Aviation: Fuels

Sir Roger Gale: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue was raised from fuel duty on aviation fuel in the last five years for which data is available.

Robert Jenrick: For the years 2012-13 to 2016-17 inclusive, around £8m per year was raised from fuel duty on aviation fuel for pleasure flying. There is no duty on aviation fuel used by commercial jets.

Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme

Alex Chalk: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the effect of restricting the gift aid small donations scheme (GASDS) on church donations made overseas by British visitors on UK registered church charities, such as St Andrews Church Kyrenia, and if he will take steps to review his Department's policy on GASDS church donations.

Robert Jenrick: The Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme allows charities to claim a Gift Aid-style top up payment in circumstances where it is not practical, or feasible to collect a Gift Aid declaration. To be eligible, donations made under the scheme must be made and banked in the United Kingdom. Requiring donations to be collected and banked in the UK helps to guard against fraud, as well as ensuring that most donations are made by UK taxpayers.

Energy: VAT

Dr David Drew: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which energy-saving products are subject to the reduced VAT rate of five per cent.

Mel Stride: The UK currently applies the reduced rate of 5% VAT to a wide range of energy-saving materials (ESMs) when they are installed in residential accommodation including: insulation; central heating system controls; hot water system controls; solar panels; wind turbines; water turbines; ground source heat pumps; air source heat pumps; micro combined heat and power units; and boilers designed to be fuelled by wood, straw or similar vegetal matter. Further information can be found in public notice 708/6 VAT on energy-saving materials and heating equipment, which is available on www.gov.uk.

Private Finance Initiative

John McDonnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to publish updated value for money assessment guidance on private finance initiatives.

Anneliese Dodds: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to publish updated value for money assessment guidance on private finance initiatives.

Robert Jenrick: Updated guidance was provided in HM Treasury’s Green Book which was published on 6 March 2018.

Private Finance Initiative

John McDonnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to publish updated data on private finance initiative projects on his Department's website.

Robert Jenrick: Updated data on PFI and PF2 projects was published on 29 March 2018.

Carillion: Private Finance Initiative

John McDonnell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers of his Department have held with the Cabinet Office on monitoring private finance Iinitiative contracts held by Carillion.

Robert Jenrick: In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of ministerial discussions are not normally disclosed.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Local Government Finance

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities his Department assesses to be a financial risk.

Rishi Sunak: The Department constantly reviews the challenges facing the sector and individual authorities, including financial risk. Following the consultation on the 2018/19 Local Government Finance Settlement, all councils have set a balanced budget for the financial year 2018-19. Councils have access to sector support led by the Local Government Association for which the Department has provided £20 million this year.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Chief Scientific Advisers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many meetings his predecessor had with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser between 1 January and 31 March 2018.

Dominic Raab: The previous Secretary of State had numerous meetings attended by analysts and technical specialists from across the Department between 1 January and 31 March 2018.

Help to Buy Scheme: Greenwich

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the effect on the public purse of Help to Buy equity loans being redeemed at a fraction of their original value on leasehold properties on New Capital Quay development in Greenwich whose valuation has significantly decreased because of blight resulting from cladding and insulation throughout that site failing category 3 safety tests arranged through his Department; whether his Department is taking steps to reduce the effect on the public purse of such valuations; and if he will make a statement.

Dominic Raab: Holding answer received on 06 June 2018



Homes England have identified 29 flats where Help to Buy: Equity Loan held a share of the equity for the New Capital Quay development. Further work is ongoing to validate this information.The Department has not made an assessment of the future valuation of such properties because it would rely on the individual situation and judgement of an independent valuer at the time the property owner decides they wish to redeem their equity loan.

Department for Work and Pensions

Department for Work and Pensions: Procurement

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many contractors currently employed by her Department are paid £1,000 or more per day.

Kit Malthouse: DWP have 6 contractors paid £1,000 or more per day. They are not DWP employees.

Social Security Benefits: Scotland

Luke Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent representations she has received from the Scottish Government on its preparations for (a) welfare devolution and (b) the establishment of a Scottish social security agency.

Alok Sharma: We continue to work closely with the Scottish Government on the transfer of welfare powers covered by the Scotland Act 2016. The Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare was set up to oversee the devolution of social security powers and meets regularly to discuss progress and resolve issues. The group is attended by ministers from both Governments and includes the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities. The next meeting is due to take place on 14 June. The establishment of the Social Security Agency is a matter for the Scottish Government.

Social Security Benefits

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the merits of offline access to benefit claims; and if she will make a statement.

Kit Malthouse: The Department offers a number of ways for people to claim benefits and contact us, including face to face, in writing or by telephone, and we are increasingly offering the convenience of online services, for example to check and claim the State Pension. Universal Credit is designed to be accessed online but, for those that require assistance, we offer a freephone telephone helpline and face to face support.

Local Government Finance

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions,what assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding to (a) Salford City Council and (b) all local authorities to meet their statutory requirements on benefits.

Kit Malthouse: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides core funding for local authorities (LAs) to deliver Housing Benefit through the Housing Benefit Administration Subsidy (HBAS). This provides a contribution to the total cost of the service. In addition, DWP provides additional funding in line with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government New Burdens Doctrine. This ensures that, where central government requires or exhorts that LAs do something new or additional, there is no additional pressure on Council Tax payments. DWP is proactive in assessing and monitoring the level of funding and costs to LAs and continues to work with LAs to determine the total cost of delivering Housing Benefit. DWP has established a new consultation forum called the LA Funding Group in conjunction with the Local Authority Associations. The aim of the group is to provide adequate time to discuss funding related issues and includes LA Chief Finance Officers on the group to gain stronger LA financial input and to explore funding methodologies

Children: Maintenance

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of deduction notices issued by the Child Maintenance Service as a result of a mistaken identity in the last 12 months.

Kit Malthouse: We do not keep statistics or records of people who we have contacted where the identity has been incorrectly identified. In order to confirm accurate details for a customer, the Child Maintenance Service has a number of trace tools, including interfaces with other Government Departments and Credit Reference Agency, which we utilise to facilitate this. Where we are unable to identify a customer, we would not progress the case and therefore would not issue a deduction order on the case.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Mr Bob Seely: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the timetable is for the introduction of  the improved testing methods for (a) bovine tuberculosis testing and (b) Phage.

George Eustice: Research is underway to develop an improved version of the tuberculin skin test, and Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is facilitating the provision of samples to companies who wish to validate their test but until this work is concluded successfully it is not possible to set a timetable for the introduction of new tests.From April 2016, new breakdown herds in the High risk Area (HRA) regardless of post-mortem or laboratory culture results require two consecutive short interval herd tests with negative results, read under ‘severe’ interpretation, before restrictions are lifted. This measure reduces the risk of leaving TB infected cattle in de-restricted herds.Since April 2017, the more sensitive interferon-gamma test has been used (alongside the skin test) to help resolve TB breakdowns with lesion and/or culture positive animals in the HRA, in certain circumstances.Farmers in England can, via a private veterinarian and with prior APHA approval, submit blood samples for TB testing to an APHA laboratory at their own expense where farmers seek additional assurances as to the TB-free status of animals over and above those afforded by statutory testing.I have held discussions with the developers of a so called "Phage test" and Defra officials have assisted them by giving them information about the authorisation process for their concept.

Home Office

Automatic Number Plate Recognition: Northern Ireland

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many automatic number plate recognition cameras are in operation in Northern Ireland for intelligence-led policing and customs purposes.

Mr Ben Wallace: For security reasons, we do not disclose in detail technical measures deployed.

Antisocial Behaviour

Giles Watling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps he has taken to tackle anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement.

Victoria Atkins: The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police and local authorities with a range of flexible powers that they can use to tackle anti-social behaviour. It is for local agencies to decide when it is appropriate to make use of these powers.On 24 December 2017, the Home Office published refreshed statutory guidance on the use of the statutory powers to assist local agencies in addressing anti-social behaviour.

Young Offenders: Reoffenders

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to help prevent people under 19 years old who are convicted of knife crime from reoffending.

Victoria Atkins: On 9 April 2018, the Government published the Serious Violence Strategy that set out action being taken to address serious violence and in particular the recent increases in knife crime, gun crime and homicide. The Strategy emphasises the importance of early intervention to raise awareness of the consequences of knife crime among young people and to encourage them to take up positive activities.This includes working with those who have previously offended through both the voluntary sector and statutory services. For example, youth offending teams provide supervision to young people who have been convicted of carrying or using an offensive weapon and this can include the young person participating in a knife crime intervention programme with the aim of reducing reoffending.

Crime: Victims

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his Department's policy is on police forces reporting the immigration status of victims of crime in relation to non-immigration related offences.

Caroline Nokes: The police priority is to protect victims and investigate crime and forces are extremely careful about doing anything to deter victims from reporting crime. Victims of crime should be treated as victims first and foremost. Each case is considered very carefully but there will be instances where police need to exchange information with the Home Office.When individuals are found to have no basis in the UK, Immigration Enforcement’s (IE) immediate priority is to ensure that all vulnerable migrants receive the support and assistance they need regardless of their immigration status.

Visas: Married People

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people entered the UK on a spousal visa and what the average age was of those applicants in each of the last ten years.

Caroline Nokes: The available information on applications and outcomes (i.e. grants, refusals, withdrawn and lapsed cases) of entry clearance visas in the ‘Family: Partner’ and ‘Family: Partner (for immediate settlement)’ categories is published quarterly in ‘Immigration Statistics’, Visas data tables volume 1, table vi_01_q, latest edition at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-year-ending-march-2018/list-of-tables#visas.Neither an age breakdown or whether an individual entered the UK on their visa is available in the published entry clearance visas data.

Immigration

Laura Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate his Department has made of the number of leave to remain applications that have exceeded the six months deadline.

Caroline Nokes: The information you have requested is not included in statistics published by the Home Office.However, published information on the number of applications for leave to remain in all categories, as well as data on UK Visa and Immigration performance against service standards for applications made in the UK and from overseas, can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data#uk-visas-and-immigration

Asylum

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make training on how to assess asylum applications on the grounds of religious persecution compulsory for his Department's asylum caseworkers.

Caroline Nokes: We are committed to delivering an asylum process that is sensitive to the needs of the claimants so that sufficient information can be obtained to facilitate fair and sustainable decisions on asylum claims. All interviewing and decision making personnel receive extensive training on interviewing and considering asylum claims, and must follow published Home Office policy guidance when conducting screening and substantive asylum interviews and considering asylum claims.Specialist training to assist decision making staff consider asylum claims based upon religious persecution is currently being developed and will be rolled out to staff as soon as possible.

Prisoners' Release

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure that vulnerability on religious grounds is adequately assessed by his Department when determining resettlement needs.

Caroline Nokes: With regards to resettlement, the UK works according to the humanitarian principles of impartiality and neutrality which means that we do not take into consideration the ethno-religious origins of people requiring assistance as we resettle solely on the basis of needs, identified by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).UNHCR is the internationally recognised and mandated agency for dealing with refugees. It has a global presence and 65 years’ experience in handling refugee crises. UNHCR is uniquely placed to help the UK authorities identify and refer vulnerable refugees who would benefit from resettlement in this country.The seven vulnerability criteria used by the UNHCR are Legal and or Physical Protection Needs; Survivors of Torture and/or Violence; Medical Needs; Women and Girls at Risk; Family Reunification; Children and Adolescents at Risk and Lack of Foreseeable Alternative Durable Solutions. Individuals are not specifically identified for resettlement based on their religion or ethnicity but members of minority communities may well meet one of the other vulnerability criteria set out by UNHCR.We are working with UNHCR and other partners to intensify their outreach to groups that might otherwise be reluctant to register for fear of stigma or discrimination and unaware of the safe space and options available to them. This includes all religious minorities.

Domestic Violence

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to extend the destitute domestic violence concession to women who have experienced violence but are not on a spousal visa.

Caroline Nokes: This Government is committed to tackling violence against all women and girls, regardless of their background, and, through the Tampon Tax, has provided £250,000 to Southall Black Sisters to fund research to support women and girls on non-spousal visas without recourse to public funds who face abuse.We have consulted on what more can be done to protect domestic abuse victims with no recourse to public funds through the Domestic Abuse Bill, which closed on 31 May. We are currently analysing the 3,200 plus responses received and will carefully consider what future courses of action are necessary.

Domestic Violence

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many women (a) applied for and (b) were granted destitute domestic violence concession in each year since the introduction of that consession.

Caroline Nokes: We do not publish this specific data, however details of individuals granted Leave to Remain in the United Kingdom as a whole can be found as part of published Migration Statistics:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release

Migrant Workers: Shipping

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an estimate of the number non-EEA seafarers who have taken up employment as crew on vessels engaged in offshore wind maintenance and construction projects in UK territorial waters since June 2017.

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 5 July 2017 to Question 2290, what the grounds were for the decision to grant a further time-limited concession for employers in the offshore wind industry up to 21 April 2019.

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 5 July 2017 to Question 2290, whether his Department provides guidance to employers on how to regularize arrangements for employing non-EEA crew on construction and maintenance vessels in the offshore wind sector; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes: This concession, which operates outside of the Immigration Rules, has been introduced, and extended until 21 April 2019, to afford the industry opportunity to take steps to regularise its arrangements for employing non-EEA crew of vessels engaged in the construction and maintenance of wind farms located in UK territorial waters.The concession is not subject to a mandatory visa requirement and the Home Office does not have information on the number of non-EEA workers admitted to work in territorial waters under these arrangements. The Home Office provides guidance on the operation of the concession at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/offshore-wind-workers-immigration-rules-concession-2017, and other available immigration employment routes at https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas..

Asylum

Thelma Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the proportion of asylum claims processed within the six-month decision target.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office has a Service Standard to make an initial asylum decision on straightforward claims within 182 days of the date of claim however we are aware of the number of older cases in the system. These are more complex cases which generally have barriers that prevents an initial asylum decision being made. These barriers are often varied and require time to clear.The Home Office publishes performance against the service standard to decide 98% of straight forward asylum claims within 6 months of the date of claim.The full data release can be found at the following address; https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data.

Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office: Domestic Visits

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which visits have been made by officials of the Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet Office Communications to (a) Wales and (b) the rest of the UK since the 2017 General Election; and what was the purpose of each visit.

Chloe Smith: The requested information is not held centrally and would incur disproportionate costs to determine. Officials visit all parts of the UK regularly, they have met with many individuals and organisations on a wide range of subjects and will continue to do so. For example, the Cabinet Office Communications department is running seven Civil Service Live events for 18,000 civil servants across the UK. Civil Service Live will take place at the following locations this summer: Glasgow 7 June, Birmingham 13 June, Blackpool 27 June, Cardiff 5 July, Newcastle 12 July and London 17/18 July. The UK Governement has more than 300,000 civil servants who, rather than visiting the rest of the UK, are based outside of London in Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland.

Living Wage: Young People

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people between 16 and 24 years old are paid less than the living wage, as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people between 16 and 24 years old in full-time employment are paid less than the living wage, as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA response 
(PDF Document, 68.67 KB)

Electoral Register: Students

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to work with university, college and further education providers to integrate electoral registration into academic enrolment prior to the commencement of the 2018-19 academic year.

Chloe Smith: The Government issued Ministerial Guidance to the Office for Students (OfS) in February 2018, relating to an electoral registration condition for Higher Education providers registering with the OfS. The OfS is currently engaging with stakeholders for the purposes of producing its own guidance to advise Higher Education providers on the steps they might take to demonstrate that they are complying with this condition of registration. We expect this action to help facilitate student registration, improving both the completeness and accuracy of electoral registers. We intend to evaluate the effect of these arrangements before considering any extension into the schools and Further Education sectors.

Local Government: Elections

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government took to encourage people unable to vote in person to apply for a postal vote for the 2018 local government elections.

Chloe Smith: The Government’s Register to Vote website allows electors to request the necessary form(s) to apply to vote by post or proxy. The gov.uk website also provides forms for electors to download, complete and send to their Local Registration Office. In addition, the Electoral Commission and local authorities provide information and guidance for those electors who cannot vote in person and wish to vote by post or proxy.

Polling Stations: Disability

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that polling stations are accessible for people with disabilities.

Chloe Smith: Local authorities are responsible for designating polling places and must ensure that these places are accessible to the local community, give reasonable facilities for voting and are accessible for voters with a disability. Last year the Government issued a Call for Evidence for information on how voting can be improved for people with disabilities. The responses to that review are being analysed and will help identify any issues and inform any proposals for change to ensure accessibility.

Polling Stations: Disability

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of (a) the adequacy of the tactile voting device used in polling stations for blind and visually impaired voters and (b) the potential merits of a replacement of that device to increase accessibility.

Chloe Smith: The tactile voting device was introduced to enable blind and visually impaired voters to mark their vote independently when previously they had to rely on someone else to mark their ballot for them. The Government’s expert Accessibly of Elections Working Group reviews the experiences of disabled people in voting at elections, including the use of the tactile voting device by blind and visually impaired voters at polling stations. Through the work of the Group, which includes the Royal National Institute of Blind People, the Government assess how the voting experience of blind and visually impaired people can be enhanced. As part of the Government’s Call for Evidence on Accessibility of elections, we will consider the information provided to assess how the voting experience of blind and visually impaired voters can be further improved.

Voting Behaviour

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect on trends in the level of voting in elections of opening polling stations at weekends.

Chloe Smith: Previous pilots of weekend voting showed no significant variation in turnout and the consultation undertaken by the Labour Government in 2009 showed that a majority of respondents favoured retaining polling on a weekday and that moving to weekend voting could double or even triple costs.

Politics and Government: Young People

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many youth democracy ambassadors have been recruited for the Suffrage Centenary Programme; and how many youth democracy ambassadors are in receipt of free school meals.

Chloe Smith: The Democracy Ambassadors scheme is currently under development with our delivery partner, Young Citizens. The scheme will be launched in full later this year. We expect Ambassadors to be drawn from a variety of backgrounds.

Polling Stations: Carers

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the Government's policy is on bringing forward legislative proposals to permit a carer to be present in a polling station to assist a person they care for to vote.

Chloe Smith: A carer who is entitled to vote as an elector at the election can help another person to vote in the role of “companion”. Following analysis of the responses to the Call for Evidence on Accessibility of elections, the Government, in partnership with its expert Accessibility of Elections Working Group, will review the position to identify whether changes are required to the provisions for carers to assist people to vote at the polling station.

General Elections

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the implications are for the Government's policies of recommendation 3 of the report of the Association of Electoral Administrators entitled It’s time for urgent and positive Government action: The AEA’s review of the 2017 local government elections and the UK Parliamentary general election, published in September 2017, on the Government giving responsibility to (a) Electoral Registration Officers for the subdivision of UK parliamentary constituencies into polling districts and (b) Returning Officers for the designation of polling places within those districts.

Chloe Smith: The Government considers that the current arrangements whereby local authorities are responsible for designating polling places and carrying out reviews, ensure that there is a clear and consistent approach, and clear lines of accountability, in the designation of polling districts and places. There are no plans to change these existing arrangements.

Elections

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the implications are for the Government's policies of recommendation 4 of the report of the Association of Electoral Administrators entitled It’s time for urgent and positive Government action: The AEA’s review of the 2017 local government elections and the UK Parliamentary general election, published in September 2017, on the Government undertaking a full and thorough review of all election and electoral registration deadlines as a matter of urgency which includes those deadlines that apply to the registration of electors, overseas electors and absent voting.

Chloe Smith: The Government has no current plans to change these deadlines.

Returning Officers: Expenditure

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the implications are for the Government's policies of recommendation 5 of the report of the Association of Electoral Administrators entitled It’s time for urgent and positive Government action: The AEA’s review of the 2017 local government elections and the UK Parliamentary general election, published in September 2017, on the Government ensuring that expense claims submitted to the Election Claims Unit are audited and settled within six months of their receipt.

Chloe Smith: We agree that it is important for expense claims to be scrutinised and settled promptly, and have taken a number of steps – including increasing the capacity of the ElectionsClaims Unit – to reduce this timescale.Whilst Returning Officers have six months from the date of the poll in which to submit their accounts, the majority are received in the days preceding that deadline. It can therefore take some time, with queries raised on the claims and also to be answered, for them to be settled.Ideally we would like them to be settled within the same financial year and we have begun work to look at the claims process and will consider this as part of that work.

Elections

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the implications are for the Government's policies of recommendation 6 of the report of the Association of Electoral Administrators entitled It’s time for urgent and positive Government action: The AEA’s review of the 2017 local government elections and the UK Parliamentary general election, published in September 2017, on the Government undertaking a full review of the combination of polls which considers (a) which polls should be automatically combined, (b) what the maximum number of polls to be combined on the same day should be and (c) the combination of polls for parish and community councils and neighbourhood planning and council tax referendums with UK Parliamentary general elections.

Chloe Smith: Combining polls can bring benefits in terms of enhancing voter participation and reducing cost. However, it is recognised that changing the rules surrounding the combination of polls would be a complex exercise. We will continue to consider this matter with stakeholders to see where improvements can be made.

General Elections

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the implications are for the Government's policies of recommendation 7 of the report of the Association of Electoral Administrators entitled It’s time for urgent and positive Government action: The AEA’s review of the 2017 local government elections and the UK Parliamentary general election, published in September 2017, on the Government removing the requirement to commence the counting of the votes at a UK Parliamentary election within four hours of the close of poll where combined with another poll.

Chloe Smith: Combining polls can bring benefits in terms of enhancing voter participation and reducing cost. Overnight counts have been the norm in some UK elections for many years and the results of those elections have not been challenged on the grounds of an inefficient or unreliable count or inaccurate result. The Government also notes the cross-party views expressed by Parliament in 2010 to ‘save General Election night’ which resulted in explicit legislation to ensure overnight counts for general elections.

Ballot Papers

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the implications are for the Government's policies of recommendation 8 of the report of the Association of Electoral Administrators entitled It’s time for urgent and positive Government action: The AEA’s review of the 2017 local government elections and the UK Parliamentary general election, published in September 2017, on the Government removing the absolute requirement to count unused ballot papers as part of the verification process and to replace it with a requirement to do so only where the Returning Officer considers it appropriate.

Chloe Smith: We consider elections processes and policy on an ongoing basis, and we work with the Association of Electoral Administrators, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Electoral Commission to consider the development and improvement of existing processes, including in relation to the procedures for the counting of votes at elections.

General Elections: ICT

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the implications are for the Government's policies of recommendation 9 of the report of the Association of Electoral Administrators entitled It’s time for urgent and positive Government action: The AEA’s review of the 2017 local government elections and the UK Parliamentary general election, published in September 2017, on the Government introducing an electronic system for the delivery, receipt and return of the Writ at UK parliamentary elections.

Chloe Smith: The Law Commission has similarly recommended that the writ should be capable of communication by electronic means in its interim report on its review of electoral law. The Government is continuing its work with the Law Commission following their report.

Polling Stations

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the implications are for the Government's policies of recommendation 11 of the report of the Association of Electoral Administrators entitled It’s time for urgent and positive Government action: The AEA’s review of the 2017 local government elections and the UK Parliamentary general election, published in September 2017, on the Government recognising the roles and responsibilities of polling station tellers in law.

Chloe Smith: The Government has no plans to set the roles and responsibilities of polling station tellers in law. It is a matter for political parties to ensure that their tellers abide by the guidance detailing the roles, responsibilities and conduct of tellers as prescribed by the Electoral Commission.

Absent Voting

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the implications are for the Government's policies of recommendation 17 of the report of the Association of Electoral Administrators entitled It’s time for urgent and positive Government action: The AEA’s review of the 2017 local government elections and the UK Parliamentary general election, published in September 2017, on the Government introducing a process to cancel a postal ballot paper issued to an elector who is subsequently deleted from the electoral register during an election period as a matter of urgency.

Chloe Smith: Electoral law is clear that a person must be included in the register of electors for a poll in order to be entitled to vote at that poll. The Government recognises that it is possible for postal ballot papers to be issued to a postal voter who may subsequently be removed from the register to be used at the poll. The Electoral Commission has issued guidance explaining that postal ballot papers returned under these circumstances cannot be counted. We will look to review the current provisions on the cancellation of postal ballot papers to see whether improvements can be made to the law in this area.

Absent Voting

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the implications are for the Government's policies of recommendation 18 of the report of the Association of Electoral Administrators entitled It’s time for urgent and positive Government action: The AEA’s review of the 2017 local government elections and the UK Parliamentary general election, published in September 2017, on the Government undertaking a review a full and thorough review of absent voting arrangements.

Chloe Smith: We consider elections processes and policy on an ongoing basis, and are working with the electoral stakeholders to consider the development and improvement of existing processes, including in relation to the procedures for absent voting arrangements.

Candidates

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the implications are for the Government's policies of recommendation 21 of the report of the Association of Electoral Administrators entitled It’s time for urgent and positive Government action: The AEA’s review of the 2017 local government elections and the UK Parliamentary general election, published in September 2017, on the Government permitting the use of any part of a candidate’s forename and/or middle names as a commonly used name.

Chloe Smith: The Government is aware of the issue around the use of commonly used names on the ballot paper. We will keep this matter under review.

Candidates

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the implications are for the Government's policies of recommendation 25 of the report of the Association of Electoral Administrators entitled It’s time for urgent and positive Government action: The AEA’s review of the 2017 local government elections and the UK Parliamentary general election, published in September 2017, on the Government reviewing nomination arrangements for all elections specifically in respect of the requirement for subscribers and deposits.

Chloe Smith: On the issue of subscribers, we note that this provision is there to ensure that any candidate can be shown to have a level of support within the electoral area. To remove this requirement could mean that people stand who are not serious candidates which would increase the costs of running polls.On the issue of deposits, the Government does not currently have any plans to amend the requirement for candidates at certain elections to pay a deposit in order to stand. Along with the requirement for subscribers, this provision is in place in order to deter candidates who are not serious about standing for election; it is not intended to restrict participation in the democratic process. The amount required as a deposit varies depending on the specific election (for UK general elections it is £500 – a figure unchanged since 1985); it needs to be set at a level which strikes an appropriate balance between encouraging participation and preventing frivolous candidates from standing. This is particularly important when considering that candidates’ election addresses are delivered at taxpayer’s expense.

Elections: Deposits

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the implications are for the Government's policies of recommendation 27 of the report of the Association of Electoral Administrators entitled It’s time for urgent and positive Government action: The AEA’s review of the 2017 local government elections and the UK Parliamentary general election, published in September 2017, on the Government extending the period to return deposits, whether to candidates or where forfeited, to one calendar week after the date of the poll.

Chloe Smith: The requirement for Returning Officers to return deposits and surrender forfeited deposits to the Consolidated Fund no later than the next working day after the declaration of the result is set out in primary legislation. We have no plans to amend this requirement.

Elections: Complaints

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the implications are for the Government's policies of recommendation 28 of the report of the Association of Electoral Administrators entitled It’s time for urgent and positive Government action: The AEA’s review of the 2017 local government elections and the UK Parliamentary general election, published in September 2017, on the Government designing and introducing a formal complaints system as outlined by the Law Commissions that provides for a clearer and local system of accountability and challenge.

Chloe Smith: Sir Eric Pickles, in his review, ‘Securing the Ballot’, also made the following recommendation:“To consider implementing a process for electors’ complaints about the administration of elections (which do not aim to overturn the result) to be investigated by the Local Government Ombudsman in England, the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, the Public Service Ombudsman for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Ombudsman as a means of providing an appropriate and accessible channel for considering complaints of a less serious nature.”The Government, in its response to the report, agreed with this recommendation and will look to bring this forward at a suitable opportunity.

Electoral Register: Costs

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department plans to change the level of funding allocated to local authorities to cover the additional costs of individual electoral registration for future financial years.

Chloe Smith: The Government is committed to funding the additional costs of IER until 2020 and has met this commitment in full since IER was introduced in 2014.

European Parliament: Elections

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 May 2018 to Question 143730, on European Parliament: Elections, whether not making preparations to hold European Parliamentary elections in 2019 will affect funding for returning officers; and what steps the Elections Claims Unit is taking to resolve potential issues relating to election claims.

Chloe Smith: Returning officers are funded from the Consolidated Fund for the running of elections at UK wide level. In the absence of a European Parliamentary poll, in the UK, in May 2019 funding will not be required. Therefore, there will be no elections claims in relation to that poll.

Department for International Trade

Andy Hall

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether he has made representations to his Thai counterpart during his recent visit to Thailand on the conviction of human rights activist Andy Hall.

Graham Stuart: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given by my Rt Hon. Friend Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific (Mark Field) on 30 April 2018, UIN 136959.The UK has a wide-ranging relationship with Thailand on prosperity, education and security issues. My Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade's visit to Thailand was to set out the future of our bilateral trading relationship and show UK commitment to free trade. Human rights continue to be at the core of our values and we are fully aligned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's commitment to raising these issues in the Government's diplomatic engagements overseas. As my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State did in Bangkok, covering the issues that Mr Hall works on, although his specific case was not raised.The British Government supports the right of human rights defenders to carry out their work without fear of harassment or reprisals. We also support full implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Chief Scientific Advisers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many meetings he had with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser between 1 January and 31 March 2018.

Margot James: The Secretary of State did not meet with the Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser during the period 1 January to 31 March 2018.

Telecommunications: Consumers

Brendan O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to strengthen the consumer within the telecoms sector.

Margot James: The Government strengthened Ofcom’s powers to support consumers through the Digital Economy Act 2017. Since then, Ofcom has taken a number of steps to benefit consumers in the telecoms sector, including introducing an Automatic Compensation Scheme for broadline and landline customers, and a text to switch reform to simplify switching for mobile customers. Additionally, the Government’s Consumer Green Paper was published on 11 April 2018. It seeks views on how to ensure that modern consumer markets work for all, both now and in the future, including in the telecoms sector. A copy of the Green Paper can be viewed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consumer-green-paper-modernising-consumer-markets.

Prime Minister

Prime Minister: Chief Scientific Advisers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Prime Minister, how many meetings she had with the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser between 1 January and 31 March 2018.

Mrs Theresa May: I have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues, officials and others.

Women and Equalities

Government Equalities Office: Procurement

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many contractors her Department employs who have worked for her Department for (a) up to one year, (b) over one and up to five years, (c) over five years and up to ten years and (d) over 10 years.

Victoria Atkins: GEO does work with consultants hired under contract working on e.g. the gender pay gap portal, but these people would be procured for such activity via the government procurement service, and are not GEO employees.

Government Equalities Office: Procurement

Philip Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many contractors currently employed by her Department are paid £1,000 or more per day.

Victoria Atkins: GEO does work with consultants hired under contract working on e.g. the gender pay gap portal, but these people would be procured for such activity via the government procurement service, and are not GEO employees.

LGBT People: Surveys

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 24 May 2018 to Question 146160 on LGBT People: Surveys, whether she plans to include legislative proposals on gay conversion therapy in her Department’s LGBT Action Plan.

Victoria Atkins: This Government firmly believes that a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity is not an illness to be cured. We are not prepared to see such activity continue either in the regulated professional sector or outside of it and have taken action to stamp out this bogus treatment. We have previously worked with the main registration and accreditation bodies for psychotherapy and counselling practitioners, including the UK Council for Psychotherapy, to develop a Memorandum of Understanding to put a stop to this practice. One major hurdle to tackling this issue is the lack of robust evidence on conversion therapy in the UK. We believe that an effective policy response must be built on a solid evidence base. That is why we included questions on conversion therapy in the National LGBT Survey, which received over 100,000 responses. Officials in the Government Equalities Office are analysing the results of the survey, including those on conversion therapy. These results will be published shortly. As the Prime Minister announced last month, the Government will also publish an action plan setting out steps Government will take to address the survey findings.

Legislation: Females

Danielle Rowley: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether the Government assess all policy and legislation for its effect on women before implementation.

Victoria Atkins: The Public Sector Equality Duty in the Equality Act 2010 requires all public authorities to have due regard to equality considerations in exercising their functions. This includes the decisions Government Departments take before implementing policy and legislation.

Candidates: Equality

Cat Smith: To ask the  Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to section 106 of the Equality Act 2010, when the Government plans to bring into force a statutory requirement for political parties to publish their parliamentary candidate diversity data for general elections.

Victoria Atkins: We keep any uncommenced provisions from the Equality Act 2010 under review. However, political parties are responsible for their candidate selection and should lead the way in improving diverse representation. I welcome the many efforts already ongoing from political parties to do so. We are developing work programmes to encourage more women to participate in politics and to ensure disabled candidates have the right support so that all people can have a voice in the decisions that affect them.

Candidates: Equality

Cat Smith: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether the Government plans to extend the timeframe for the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act 2002 to enable political parties to use all-women shortlists after 2030.

Victoria Atkins: The number of women in the House of Commons is at an all-time high of 208 (32%). All-women shortlists for parliamentary elections are one of a number of different approaches which political parties have used to help achieve this. The current legislation provides for all-women shortlists up to 2030, and a decision on whether to extend this further into the future will be taken in due course.

Government Equalities Office: Non-departmental Public Bodies

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many (a) women and (b) men her Department has appointed to each of its non-Departmental Public Bodies in each of the last five years.

Victoria Atkins: The breakdown requested for appointments to the Equality and Human Rights Commission is below: YearWomenMen2018322017-120162120152-2014--